Guide fixture for flush tanks



Dec. 1958 L. s. COFFELT GUIDE FIXTURE FOR FLUSH TANKS Filed June 14, 1957 lesi'er s. cor/8w INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,865,029 GUIDEFIXTURE FOR FLUSH TANKS Lester Sherman Colfelt, Sacramento, Calif.

Application June 14, 1957, Serial No. 665,713

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-56) This invention relates to guide fixtures for flush tanks of water closets, the primary object of the invention being to provide a fixture which may be readily and easily secured within the outlet pipe of a flush tank for guiding the usual flush tank valve to its seat.

An important object of the invention is to provide a flush tank valve unit wherein the flush tank valve may be adjusted longitudinally of the valve rod to meet various requirements of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unit comprising a bearing ring adapted to be secured within the upper end of the outlet pipe of a flush tank, and to which a vertical tubular bearing is secured, the supporting ring providing means for maintaining the bearing in a true vertical position, eliminating any possibility of the valve rod binding in its bearing under the surging action of the outward flow of water from the flush tank.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which Will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a flush tank and end of the outlet pipe connected therethrough, the flush tank valve guide forming the subject matter of the present invention being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the upper end of the outlet pipe of a flush tank and the guide and valve associated therewith.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a flush tank is indicated generally by the reference character 5 into which the upper end of the outlet pipe 6 extends, the outlet pipe having its upper end flared providing a support 7 for the valve seat 8.

The valve guide forming the essence of the present invention, includes a supporting ring 9 which is permanently secured within the outlet pipe 6 adjacent to the support 7, as by welding.

Extending horizontally from the inner surface of the supporting ring 9 and disposed directly opposite to each other, are arms 10 to which the bearing tube 11 is welded, the tube 11 being of a length to extend a substantial distance above the arms 10, providing an adequate bearing surface for the valve rod 12 operating th'erethrough.

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The reference character 13 indicates the conventional flush tank valve, which is formed with an opening to receive the upper threaded end of the valve rod 12, there being provided an adjusting nut 14 on the threaded end of the rod 12 to adjust the valve 13 longitudinally of the rod. A lock nut 15 is also provided on the threaded portion of the rod 12 and acts to secure the valve 13 in its adjusted position on the valve rod 12.

The lower end of the valve rod 12 is flattened at 16 and is provided with openings through which the spring retainer pin 17 which has its longer end disposed upwardly with its wide end disposed adjacent to the lower free end of the rod 12, to the end that should it be desired to remove the rod 12 the rod may be pulled upwardly, the narrow end of the pin 17 passing into the bearing 11 where it will be pressed and allow the rod to be removed. Upon replacing the rod it is only necessary to compress the pin 17 by means of pliers or similar tools and start the pin into the upper end of the bearing tube 11. The valve rod may now be forced downwardly until the pin 17 passes the lower end of the bearing tube 11, thereby providing a stop to prevent the accidental displacement of the rod 12 under normal conditions. Secured to the upper end of the valve rod 12 is a yoke 18 to which one end of the chain 19 is secured, the opposite end of the chain being secured to the actuating arm 20 which is elevated by the usual operating shaft 21 to unseat the valve 13. It will be obvious that the valve 13 will follow the level of the water and be drawn into contact with the valve seat in the usual manner. From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a guide for the valve rod of a flush tank to insure the actual seating of the valve to insure against winding of the valve rod within its bearing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

The combination with the discharge pipe having an outwardly flared upper face and an inverted frusto-conical valve seat of a flush tank, of a valve guide comprising a supporting ring fitted within said discharge pipe adjacent to the valve seat, horizontal transverse supporting arms secured across said supporting ring, a vertical bearing tube having one end secured centrally of said supporting arms, the other end of said bearing tube terminating a substantial distance above the supporting arms, a flat valve rod having a twisted apertured lower end operating within said bearing tube, a vertically disposed, laterally expansible spring pin extending through the aperture in the lower end of said rod providing a stop adapted to prevent accidental displacement of said rod, and a ball valve having an opening in the lower side thereof secured to the other end of said rod, said bearing tube extending through said opening into said ball valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 379,159 Harkins Mar. 6, 1888 1,753,997 Opperman Apr. 8, 1930 2,561,877 Limongelli July 24, 1951 2,584,407 Eittke Feb. 5, 1952 2,728,087 Irion Dec. 27, 1955 2,735,112 Myers Feb. 21, 1956 

